Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.
Parallel translations
- WEB and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” The thing pleased the king, and he did so.
- KJV And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
- NKJV Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This thing pleased the king, and he did so.
- NASB Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.” And the suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly.
- NLT After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti.” This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The one who pleases the king will become queen, and the plan is approved. The contest that will crown Esther is set.
Overview
The king readily adopts the proposal, and the search becomes official policy. The outcome will rest on the king's pleasure, an uncertain and worldly standard. Yet behind the apparent randomness of royal preference, God is at work to grant favor to Esther, fulfilling His purpose to preserve His people through her.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Matt 14:6On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
- Matt 20:16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Esth 1:21The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had advised.
- Matt 22:14For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- 2 Sam 17:4This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
- Esth 3:9–10If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.”
- 2 Sam 13:4–6so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
- 2 Sam 16:21–23Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Though God is never named, his hidden hand preserves the people from whom the Messiah will come — a deliverance 'for such a time as this' that anticipates the open deliverance of Christ.
How Esther 2:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.